Blak Rayne Newsletter Subscription

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Welcome to BRB,
everyone! My guest today is unique for several reasons: she's an aspiring YA
author, she's a member of the writer's group I attend, and she's someone I admire
for her natural aptitude towards critiquing. She has always maintained a
logical, unbiased perspective whenever we critique as group, which everyone
knows can be a daunting task. It’s hard enough to share ideas in front
of other authors then ask for honest feedback. We, as authors, can be a
sensitive bunch, only seeking the kindest of words because our egos are on the
line. But when someone can give an opinion and do so politely without
offending, and everyone listens, that is a gift. Thanks for stopping by today,
Tiana. It is wonderful to have you at BRB!

Below are 7 essential takeaways from the
conference, and my thoughts on applying them to the book industry.

1. Find a specific audience

The idea of targeting the mass market is
about as contemporary as mullets and shoulder pads. The key to modern marketing
is finding a niche.

Seth Godin said the bell curve is melting,
such that more people are falling outside of the normal range than inside.
Target the ones outside of the normal range (technical term: the weird people).

What’s your niche? Zombie romance? Identify
your exact audience. Then go forth and find your loyal followers. It does you
no good to wait for the perfect reader to come to you. Hit up the place your
ideal reader hangs out – both online and in the real world.

2. Build a network

Effective marketing isn’t about throwing
your message at anyone and everyone. It’s about building emotional connections
with the right people. Create deep, loyal relationships with readers by
genuinely caring about them. Be real, be vulnerable.

With those deep relationships in place, your
web will start to build itself. It’s Metcalfe’s Law: readers will tell others
about your book if they like it, and the value of your network will blow up
like a marshmallow in a microwave.

Building your network also means connecting
with other authors (hi there!) and anyone who can help you market. Make a list
of people you’d like to connect with. It might feel fake to approach someone
and say, “hey, I think it’s important we build our relationship.” It’s not.
Being intentional about building a relationship doesn’t make it fake. So get out there and network.

3. Lead a tribe

People naturally want to be in a tribe;
i.e., a group with a common purpose. If you don’t know what I’m talking about,
I have one word for you: Belieber.

Find your tribe. They key word here is
find. Find, not create. You don’t need to invent a subculture – you just need
to show up to lead it. Someone must become the leader of a tribe, and that
someone can be you.

Then lead with generosity, intimacy,
candour, and accountability.

4. Earn trust

Build relationships on both a professional
and personal level. Earn your market’s trust, because once people trust you,
they’ll listen to you.

Seth Godin said one of his early books on
the internet was a failure because he saw the internet and tried to make a
book. Yahoo!, on the other hand, saw the internet and made a search engine. We
must think in terms of what works now, and not attempt to mould it into
something we’re just comfortable with.

Would your followers miss you if you didn't
show up tomorrow? The answer should be yes. Offering valuable content is key
for your website, blog, and social media platforms.

Be generous without expecting or asking for
anything in return. Generosity is the foundation of a strong following.

7. Resonate through story

So how do you create valuable content?
Nancy Duarte talked about the power of using the rules of a story to connect
with your audience on an emotional level. Yes, we've all written a story, and
that's why we're here, but consider applying these rules to blog posts,
presentations, and whatever other content you write.

Write content using a 3-act structure.
Establish what’s “at stake” for the audience (your protagonist), and ensure
they emerge transformed. You are the intervening mentor who helps the hero
overcome challenges. Let your passion show, draw from a range of emotions, and
use rhetoric. And if your middle act lags, consider killing someone off.

Well, maybe not all story rules apply, but
the point is that people identify more with brands that offer a human
connection. Story is the best way to create meaning around a brand.

Bonus notes

A few additional notes that I couldn’t
bring myself to leave out:

●My
favourite thought of the day came from Seth Godin: “If failure is not an option,
neither is success. The guy who invented the ship also invented the shipwreck.”

●Fear
is an indication that you're onto something good. Use it as fuel.

●The
future is about connecting the physical world to the online world.

●We
shouldn’t try to stand out of the crowd. The crowd will make us change who we
are. The way to stand out is to avoid the crowd altogether.

●We
live in a one-screen world, where the screen in front of us is the only one
that matters. Develop a unified marketing strategy (not one for web, one for
mobile, one for tablet…)

Marketing has rapidly evolved since the
dawn of the internet. What worked in TV ads and magazines twenty years ago is
not the best approach today. What else do you see as the new face of marketing?
How do you plan to use The Art of Marketing to boost your writing career?

JOIN THE NAUGHTY LIST!!

BEDTIME

TATTOOS

KISS ME AGAIN

LOVERS

KISSING

KISS ME

BLUE

ABOUT ME

Blak Rayne is a best selling author of gay romance. She loves to write and believes it's one of the greatest forms of self-expression. What better way to see inside the human soul? Blak resides in Canada, and yes, she is a woman, wife and mother. She’s been writing and drawing since elementary school, and she loves anything that involves the arts. As for family, her daughter is her toughest critic and greatest support!

I post a variety of content such as articles linked to my blog. I will also share images, jokes, or information; whatever inspires me. 99.99 percent of the content is intended for adult viewing. Enough said!